Ironing machine



Jan. 21; 1941. GELDHQF 2,229,323

' IRONING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 27,"1s5s.i 2 shets -sneet 1 ,W \A/ITH ES 5 Y v INvENT'R P. E. GELDHOF IRONING MACHINE Jan. 21, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27; 1933 IHVENTUR' II 111,111,, I,

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 21, 1941 PATENT OFFICE 2,229,323 v IRONING MACHINE Peter Eduard Geldhof, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation Syracuse,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 27, 1933, Serial No. 699,936

' 26 Claims.

My invention relates to ironing machines and more particularly to a novel combined table and cover therefor, and is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 662,511, filed March 24, 1933. 7

An object of my invention is to provide a supporting stand and cover for an ironing machine which, when the ironing machine is not in use, may be utilized as a table.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cover for an ironing machine which, when it is desired to use the ironing machine as such, may be easily rotated from a position covering the ironing elements to a position to permit free access thereto.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a cover for an ironing machine which may, by a simple linkage, be manually rotated from a position covering the ironing elements to a position alongside the ironing stand and below the ironing elements. a

A further object of my invention is to provide means for permitting manual movement of an ironing machine cover from a position enclosing the ironing elements to a position such as to permit free access thereto and in addition provide a spring associated with said means for initially decreasing the manual efiort required to move the cover, said spring serving, when the cover approaches a position alongside the ironing stand, to restrain the movement of the cover whereby the cover is prevented from striking the ironing stand with any great degree of force.

My invention further contemplates the provision of means whereby the cover may, with little manual effort, be swung from a position covering the ironing elements, released part way in its movement, and permitted to swing and ease into position alongside the. ironing stand without bumping heavily thereagains't.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be more apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyin'g drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view taken on line l--l of Figure 2 showing theposition of the cover enclosing the ironing elements and in dotted lines, the position of the cover when the ironing elements are exposed.

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1, in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure '3 is a view taken on line 3-'3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is-a view taken on the line 5-5. FIE- ure 1. r

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6-6, Figure 1.

Figure 'l is a view taken on line 1-1, Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 2. Figure 9 is a cross-section on line 9-9, Figure 4.

My invention, in general, comprises an ironing stand ll, supported by legs l2 on which is mounted, as indicated in dotted lines, an ironing machine comprising the usual ironing roll l3, ironing shoe elements H, and controls l6. Enclosing the ironing elements, I have provided a cover 11, the top of which, as the surface l8, may be employed when the ironing machine is not in use as such, as a table. The side-walls of the cover are preferably bent at and rebent to form a depending ledge and the table surface has a. depending lip l9 adapted to fit over and be secured in position on the rebent portion of the side-walls. Thus the complete assembly may be utilized in a kitchen as a table, has a utility separate and apart from its use purely as an ironing machine and, therefore, need not be stored after the ironing operations have been completed.

The cover I! is supported in position on the ironing stand it and is movable on a pair of links 2| which are pivoted to the ironing stand H on opposite'sides thereof thr ugh a pivot rod 22. The pivot rod 22 is secure and rotatable in a pair of brackets 23 which are riveted or otherwise suitably secured\to' the ironing stand II. The rotatable rod 22 or equalizing bar and the links 2| secured thereon move as a unit with respect to the table and in shifting the cover from a closed position to an open position ,and vice versa, andlact to retain the sides of the cover in the same relative position during such movement. The connection between the link 2| and the equalizing bar 22 may be produced in any suitable way for effecting their simultaneous rocking movement, and as shown herein, the end of the equalizing bar 22 is, flatted as shown at H on opposite sides and the link Zlis formed with an elongated slot which fits tightly over the flatted portion of the bar 22 and is secured thereon in any suitable way as by upstanding the head of the bar against a washer 10. II desired, the links'may be pivotally secured directly to the ironing stand and the bar rigidly secured to the arms at any convenient position along the length of the links.

Each of the pivot'arms is preferably bent at its upper and lower extremity, the lower bent portion of each of the links lying substantially parallel to the top'of the ironing stand when the cover is in a closed position and the upper bent portions at their extremities being pivoted at 28 to the cover preferably above the centen line thereof. l

Although the pivot action between the cover and the links may be accomplished in any suitable manner, a housing 21 is preferably welded or otherwise secured to each side of the cover IT in each of which is rotatably mounted a pivot member 28. The pivot member extends through an aperture formed in the housing 21 and passes through an aperture formed in the links 2|, a cotter pin 29 or other suitable means being utilized to retain the links on the pivot member 28. A pair of coiled springs 3| are mounted inter nally of the cover. An end coil 32 of each of the springs is secured in an aperture formed in the extremity of the straight portion of each of the links 2| and the opposite ends are secured in brackets 33 welded or otherwise secured in the upper corners of the cover.

A second pair of links 34 are positioned on opposite sides of the ironing stand, one end of each of which is pivotally secured as at 36 to the cover. The other end of each of the links 34 is pivotally secured as at 31 to the legs of the ironing stand. The pivot action between the cover and the links 34, as shown in Figure 4. is accomplished by means of projecting arms 38 which are secured by rivets 39 to a bar 4| welded to the inside of the cover as at 42. The bar extends completely around the internal lower wall of the cover and serves to reinforce and prevent the lower edges of the cover from being deformed. The bar ii is bent inwardly at A l to accommodate the projecting arms 38 between the inside of the cover and the bar 4|, the cover being apertured to receive the arms 38.

The outer portions of each of the projecting arms 38 is decreased in diameter to rotatably receive the links 34 which are secured in position by snap rings 41. The other end of each of the links 34 is secured topivot members 48 by means of snap rings 49, the pivot members 48 being retained on the legs I? of the ironing stand by means of retaining nuts i. It will be noted that the pivot arms 2! are located internally of the cover lfi, while the links 34 are located externally thereof. Preferably the links 2! and 3d are so positioned and proportioned with respect to each other that when the cover reaches its final position, it lies vertical, with its upper edge in close proximity to the legs of the ironing stand.

To prevent the cover, when it is moved to a position enclosing the ironing elements, from marring the ironing stand H, a pair of bumpers 54 are provided which are secured to the forward corners of the inside wall of the cover 11. The bumpers, more clearly shown in Figure 8, comprise U-shaped pieces of rubber or other suitable material which straddle the bar 4| and extend slightly below the plane of the lower edge of the cover. The bar 4| is bent outwardly from the internal side walls of the cover to accommodate the bumpers 54, the bumpers being retained in position by means of bolts 56, The bumpers 54 contact with reinforcing flanges 6| secured as by welding to a depending portion 62 of the top of the supporting stand The depending portion serves as an apron around the stand, the legs i2 being removably screwed in position on the internal wall of the apron.

In moving the cover from the position shown in solid lines in Figure l to the position shown in dotted lines, the cover I! is lifted and rotated bodily about the pivot rod 22 as a center to the position shown in dotted lines where the bottom edge of the cover rests against bumpers 69. The bumpers 69 are preferably made of rubber and are retained in apertures formed in each of the rear legs I2 as shown in Figure 6. The links 34 move from a position substantially extending upwardly from the pivot points 31 to a position approximately 180 degrees away and prevent the cover from being rocked about the pivot points 26.

In moving the cover from the solid line position to the dotted line position the spring 3|, when the cover is initially raised, is contracted. The spring thus exerts a force on the cover which decreases the initial manual effort required to rotate the cover. After a certain point in the movement of the cover is reached, the point 32 moves away from the bracket 33 in which the spring is retained. The spring is thus expanded and exerts a restraining influence on the movement of the cover whereby the cover is eased into the dotted line position without striking the bumpers 69 with too great a force. It will thus be apparent that the cover may be raised with little effort from a position enclosing the ironing elements, released partway in the movement, and' allowed to swing and ease into the dotted line position without striking too heavily against the bumpers. Also it will be observed that when the cover is brought from the dotted line position to the solid line position in Figure l, the cover may be raised with little effort because the spring 3| tends to aid the lifting movement, and further, when the cover approaches the position enclosing the ironing elements, the spring is again stretched so as to lower the cover gently into position without striking too heavily on the reinforcing angle member 6|.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of this invention, I do not desire to be limit-ed to the exact construction shown, as various changes in the form and relation of the parts thereof may read ily be made without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims I claim:

1. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand including supporting legs and a surface supporting ironing elements, a cover enclosing the ironing elements resting on the ironing stand and adapted in such position to form with the ironing stand a table, a pair of links pivotally secured to the ironing stand and to the cover, a second pair of links pivotally secured to the ironing stand and to the cover. a rotatable bar extending between and secured to one of said pairs of links and serving, during movement of the cover on said links from a position enclosing the ironing elements to a position exposing the same, to cause the links to move together, and spring means connected to one of the pairs of links and to the cover in a manner and position such that said spring means is initially contracted and subsequently expanded during movement of said cover from one extreme position to the other so as to lessen the efiort required to either open or close the cover. 7

2. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand including supporting legs andafixed horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance above the level of the horizontal surface, a hollow box-like cover supported by the ironing stand and extending over and enclosing the ironing elements and forming with the ironing stand a table, a pair of links pivotally secured to the cover and to the ironing stand, cover guiding means secured to the cover and to the ironing stand, said links and cover guiding means determining the arc of movement of the cover as it is moved from a position enresting upon the supporting structure and overclosing the ironing elements to aposition exposing the same, a rotatable bar extending between and secured to said links, said links being so positioned as to enable the cover to swing so that'in its final position it extends; vertically in close proximity to the rear legs of the ironing stand and with the front oft-he cover forming a substantially horizontal surface, lying below the top level of the ironing elements.

3. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand including supporting legs and a fixed, horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance above the level of the horizontal surface, a hollow box-like cover supported by the ironing stand andextending over manually moved upwardly 'over'the ironing ele-- ments in a fixed predetermined arc to a sub stantially vertical position at the rear of the ironing stand in close proximity thereto and with the front of the cover forming a substantially horizontal surface of substantial width lying below the top level of the ironing elements.

4. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand including supporting legs and a fixed horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance above the level ,of the horizontal surface, a hollow box-like cover supported by the ironing stand and extending over and enclosing thepironing elements and forming with the ironing stand atable, a pair of links pivotally secured to the ironing stand and to the cover, a second pair of links pivotally secured to the ironing stand and to the cover, a rotatable barextending between and rigidly secured. to one of said pairs of links, said pairs'of links and bar being so positioned as to enable the cover to be moved manually upwardly and over the ironing elements in a fixed predetermined arc to a vertical position .at the rear of the ironing stand with the front of the cover forming a substantially horizontal flat surface of substantial width lying below the top level of the ironing elements, and means secured to the cover and to at least one of a pair of said links for counterbalancing the cover during its movement. 5. In a combined ironing machine and table.

in combination, a supporting structure, ironing means including a heated shoe carried thereby, a cover having a top wall and front, rear and end walls of substantial heighth, said cover normally resting uponv the supporting structure and overlying the ironing e ements, a pair of links pivoted to the cover and .to the supporting structure, a second pair of links pivoted to the cover and to the supporting structure, and an equalizing rod extending between and operatively connected to the links of one of said pairs for movement therewith for causing said linksto move together, said pairs of links cooperating to enable the cover to be moved in a fixed pre-determined path upward and back from its normal position on the supporting structure to a position at the rear thereof.

6. In a combined ironing machine and table, in combination, a supporting structure, ironing means includinga heated shoe carried thereby, a cover having a top wall and front, rear and end walls of substantial heighth, saidcover normally to the supporting structure at the upper rear corners thereof and pivoted to the sides of the cover substantially mid-way between the front and rear walls, a second pair oflinks pivoted to I .the cover and to the supporting structure, and 'an equalizing rod extending between and operatively connected to the links of one of said pairs for movement therewith for causing the said links to move together, said pairs of links cooperating to enable the cover to be moved in a fixed predetermined path upward and back from its normal position on the supporting structure to a position .at the rear thereof such that the front wall of thecover lies well below-the top level of the ironing elements, whereby little, if any, heat generated by the heated shoe will be directed by said cover toward the operator in front of the machine.

7. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand, a y

cover enclosing the ironing elements, a link pivotally secured to said cover and to said ironing stand, a spring secured to said cover and to said link at a point above the pivot between said link and said cover .adapted when the cover is initially raised to lessen the manual effort required therefor and adapted during the subsequent movement of the cover to restrain the movement thereof, and additional link means secured to said cover and to said ironing stand.

8. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand upon which the ironing elements are mounted and upwardly from which they project,a box-like cover adapted to rest upon the ironing stand and enclosing the iron'ing'element's and forming with the ironing stand a table, a pair of links pivotally secured to the ironing stand near its rear portion and pivoted to the cover forwardly of the first-named pivots, a second pair of links pivoted to the cover 'on an axis at the rear of the pivotal connection of said first-named links to the ironing stand and pivotally connected to the stand on an axis below the. first named pivots of said second links and means interposed between the first-named links and cover for counterbalancing the cover as it is moved from a position enclosing the ironing elements to a position at the rear of the ironing stand exposing the ironing elements.

.9..In an ironing machine, an ironing stand having a horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance above the horizontal surface, a box-like cover adapted to rest upon the ironing' stand and enclosing the ironing elements and forming with the ironing stand a table, a pair of links pivot ally secured to the ironing stand and pivotally secured to the cover forwardly of the first-named pivots and above the level of the horizontal surface, a second pair of links pivoted to the cover -0'n an axis-at the rear of the pivotal connection the ironing stand exposing the same. a

10. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand including supporting legs and a fixed substantially horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance abovethe level of the horizontal surface, a hollow-box-like cover supported by the ironing stand and extending over and enclosing the ironing elements and forming with the ironing stand a table, means secured to the ironing stand and to the cover for enabling the cover to be manually moved in a fixed predetermined arc upwardly and over the ironing elements to a substantially vertical position at the rear of the ironing stand in close proximity thereto with the front of the cover forming a substantially horizontal fiat surface of substantial width lying below the top level of,

the ironing elements.

11. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand, ironing elements thereon, a cover enclosingthe ironing elements, a pivot link secured to the ironing stand and to the cover whereby said'cover may be manually shifted, spring means secured to said pivot link and to said cover in a manner and position such that said spring is initially contracted and subsequently expanded during the movement of said cover from a position enclosing said ironing elements to a position exposing the same.

12. An ironing machine table comprising a stand and a cover, ironing elements supported on said stand, a pivot link secured to the ironing stand and cover whereby said cover may be manually shifted from a position enclosing the ironing elements to a position uncovering the same,-and spring means secured to said pivot link and to said table in a manner and position such that the manual effort required to raise the cover is lessened and the subsequent movement of the cover is counter-balanced.

13. In an ironing machine an ironing stand having a fixed substantially horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance above the horizontal surface, a box-like cover resting in a'substantially horizontal position on the ironing stand and enclosing the ironing elements and forming with the ironing stand a table, a pair of links secured to the cover close to the rear lower corners thereof, and secured to the stand close to the rear edge thereof, said links being each of a length substantially half the width of the cover from front to rear, an additional pair of links connected to the stand near the rear thereof adjacent the horizontal surface of the stand and to the cover at points well in advance of the rear edge of the cover for causing the cover to move in a predetermined arc whereby the forward wall of the cover clears the ironing elements and the cover in its open position has the forward side thereof positioned below the upper edge of the ironing elements. 14. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand including a fixed substantially horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an apprec able distance above the level of the horizontal surface, a cover enclosing the ironing elements, means comprising a link pivotally secured to said cover and pivotally secured to said ironing stand whereby said cover may be moved from a position enclosing the ironing elements to a position exposing the same, and a spring secured to said cover and to said link for counter-balancing the cover during its movement, said spring in both positions of the cover being substantially entirely within the confines of the cover.

15. The combination of an ironer stand having a table top supporting ironing elements thereon, and a box-like cover member for said ironing elements having a top wall and vertical front, .rear and side walls and an open bottom, a pair of links pivotally connected to the rear lower corners movement about the connections of said links with the cover and a bodily movement about the lower connections of said links with the stand to a position at the'rear of and below the stand, and a second pair of links pivotally connected to the cover and pivotally connected to the stand at a point adjacent the table top and, when the cover is closed, substantially coincident with the axis of connections of the first pair of links with the cover for rotating the cover during its bodily movement to position its front wall in a substantially horizontal plane.

16. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand including supporting legs and a fixed substantially horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance above the level of the horizontal surface, a hollow box-like cover supported by the ironing stand and extending over and enclosing the ironing eleand in close proximity thereto with the front of the cover forming a substantially horizontal surface of substantial width lying below the top level of the ironing elements, and means for lessening the manual effort required for raising said cover from its vertical position at the rear of the ironing stand.

17. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand including supporting legs and a fixed substantially horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance above the level of the horizontal surface, a hollow box-like cover supported by the ironing stand and extending over andenclosing the ironing elements and forming with the ironing stand a table, means secured to the ironing stand and to the cover for enabling the cover to be manually moved in a fixed predetermined arc upwardly and over the ironing elements to a substantially vertical position at the rear of the ironing stand in close proximity thereto with the front "of the cover forming a substantially horizontal fiat surface of substantial width lying below the top level of the ironing elements, and means for lessening the manual effort required for raising said cover from each of its limiting positions.

18. An ironing machine cabinet comprising a stand and a cover, ironing elements supported by said stand, means secured to said ironing stand and to said cover for enabling the cover to be manually moved from either an open or-a closed position in a fixed predetermined are over said ironing elements, said cover passing through a neutral or balanced position intermediate the ends of the arc of its travel, and means interposed between said stand and cover for initially assisting in and subsequently restraining the opening movement of said cover.

19. An ironing machine cabinet comprising a stand and a cover, ironing elements supported by said stand, means secured to said ironing stand and to said cover for enabling the cover to be manually moved from either an open or a closed position in a'fixed predetermined are over said ironing elements, said cover passing through a neutral or balanced position intermediate the ends ofthe arc of its travel, andmeans interposed between said stand and cover for initially assisting in both the opening andvclosing movements,

ofsaidcover.- 5 20. An'ironin machine "cabinet comprising a stand and a cov r, ironing elements supported by said stand, means secured to said ironing stand neutral or balanced position intermediatethe ends of the arc of its travel, andcoVer'counterbalancing means including a spring, interposed between said stand and cover in a. manner so that the tension of the spring is progressively decreased and then increased during themovement of the cover from one to the other of its limiting positions.

21. An ironing machine cabinet comprising a stand and a cover, ironing elements supported by said stand, means secured to said ironing stand and to said cover for enabling the cover to be.

manually moved from either an open or a closed position in a fixed predetermined arc over said ironing elements, said cover passing through a neutral or balanced position intermediate the ends of the arc of its travel and cover counterbalancing means including a tension spring interposed between said stand and cover in a manner so that the tension of the spring works in a direction tending to move the cover from'one or the other of its limiting positions, there being a neutral point intermediate the ends of the arc of travel of the cover where the tension of the spring has no tendency to move the cover.

22. In a combined ironing machine and table,-

in combination, a supporting structure, ironing means including a heated shoe carried thereby, 0 a cover having a top wall and front, rear and end walls of substantial height, said cover normally resting upon the supporting structure and overlying the ironing elements, a pair of links pivoted to the supporting structure at the rear upper 46 corners thereof and pivoted to the sides of the cover substantially midway between the front and rear walls, a second pair of links pivoted to the cover and to the supporting structure, said pairs of links cooperating to enable the cover to be 50 moved in a fixed predetermined path upward and back from its normal position onthe supporting structure to a position at the rear thereof such that the front wall of the cover lies well below the top level of the ironing elements, whereby little, if any, heat generated by the heated shoe will be directed by said cover toward the operator in front of the machine.

23. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand a supporting ironing elements which project an appropriate distance above the level of the stand, a hollow box-like cover supported by the ironing stand and extending over and enclosing the iron ing elements and forming with the ironing stand a table, means secured to the ironing stand and to the cover for enabling the cover to be manually moved in a fixed predetermined are upwardly and over the ironing elements to a substantially vertical position at the rear of the ironlng stand in close proximity thereto with the To front of the cover forming a substantially hori- :zontal flat'surface-of substantial w dth ymg below. the top-levelrof-the ironing elements.

24.jIn a combinedircning machine and table,

- ,in combination, a supporting 'j'structurepironing.

means including a heatedshOe carried thereby, acover, having a toplwalland front, rear and end walls oi substantial height;- said, cover normally resting upon-the supporting structure and overlying "the ironing elements, a pair of: links pivoted to the cover and to-thezsupporting struc- 10 ture and enabiingthefi cover tolbe moved upward and back from its normal position on' the supporting structure to'a position at the rear thereof such that the front wall of the cover occupies a substantially horizontal position well below the 15 top level of the ironing elements, whereby little, if any, heat generated by the heated shoe will be directed by said cover toward the operator in front of the'machin'e, and means operatively connected to-the. cover and to the supporting structure for causing the cover during said movement to move in a fixed pre-determined path.

25. In a combined ironing machine and table, in combination, a supporting stn1cture,-ironing means including a heated shoe carried thereby, 25 a cover having a top wall and front, rear and end walls of substantial height, said cover normally resting upon the supporting structure and overlying the ironing elements, a pair of links pivoted to the cover and to the supporting structure, a so second pair of links pivoted to the cover and to the supporting structure, said pairs of links cooperating to enable the cover to be moved in a fixed predetermined path upward and back from its normal position on the supporting structure 35 to a position at the rear thereof such that the front wall of the cover lies well below the top level of the ironing elements, whereby little, if any, heat generated by the heated shoe will be directed by said cover toward the operator in front of the machine. I

26. In an ironing machine, an ironing stand having a fixed substantially horizontal surface supporting ironing elements which project an appreciable distance above the level of the horizontal surface, a hollow box-like cover supported by the ironing stand and extending over and enclosing the ironing elements and forming with the ironing stand a table, a pairof links pivotally secured to the ironing stand at substantially the level of the horizontal surface and pivotally secured to the cover forwardly of said pivots and a above the level of the horizontal surface, a second pair of links pivotally secured to the cover close to the rear lower corners thereof and pivotally secured to the ironing stand below the level of the ironing elements close to the rear edge of the stand but forwardly of the pivotal connection of the second pair of links to the cover. said links being proportioned and arranged whereby the cover may be manually swung in a fixed predetermined are upwardly and over the ironing elements to the rear of the ironing stand, the pivotal connection between the second pair 01' links and cover when the latter is in fully opened position 65 being locatedrearwardly of the pivotal connections between both pairs oi links and the stand to facilitate upward swinging movement of the cover to its closed position.

21.-ma nnuann Gammon. 

